Sisig sizzles at Citi Tennis Open tailgate party in DC

The Philippine Embassy served pork and bangus sisig at the CitiOpen tailgate event held at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, DC – Sisig, the traditional Filipino dish of grilled chopped meat served in a sizzling plate, washed down with Philippine local beer was the Philippine Embassy’s appealing pair at the Citi Open’s tailgate event held at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on August 3.

Along with the Embassies of Barbados, Chile, Honduras and Peru, the Embassy participated in the tailgate bearing the theme, “Taste of Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge.”

Over 150 guests of the Citi Open professional tennis tournament were able to taste five unique dishes and drinks from the participating embassies on the sidelines of the competition.

Served in two variations – pork and bangus (milkfish) – sisig was among the guests’ favorites due to its distinct, savory aroma and taste.

Guests enjoying sisig and local beer at the Philippine Embassy booth during CitiOpen’s tailgate event. CONTRIBUTED

Though pork is the traditional protein of choice in cooking sisig, the Philippine Embassy also showcased bangus sisig in addition to the already popular pork sisig.

Bangus or milkfish, the most widely cultured and consumed fish in the Philippines, with its mild taste, and meaty and juicy texture has slowly found its way to international markets including in the United States.

“It was a very successful event. People were curious about what we served. Cooking bangus sisig is like a work of art. You put a lot of attention to details; debone, season, fry, dice, sauté then garnish. In the end, it’s a wonderful creation and a tasteful Filipino dish that people loved,” said Chef Cho Ortega of the Filipino restaurant Lumpia, Pansit atbp, who catered the bangus sisig served at the event.

The economic team of the Philippine Embassy, led by Economic Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga (fourth from left) with Chef Cho Ortega (third from left) of Lumpia, Pansit atbp restaurant, at the Citi Open tailgate held at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, Washington, D.C. on August 3. CONTRIBUTED

“The CitiOpen tailgate event is a very good opportunity to promote unique Filipino food traditions such as sisig to the mainstream Washington community. ‘gastrodiplomacy’ remains to be a major thrust of the Embassy’s cultural promotion program, and being here allows us to share our country’s rich and diverse culture through food,” said Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Minister Patrick Chuasoto.

The Embassy’s participation to the CitiOpen tailgate was spearheaded by its economic section, with the support of the Office of the Philippine Agriculture Attaché and the cooperation of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Washington, DC.